Electric-lamp cleaner.



E. E. EDGERTON. ELECTRIC LAMP CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1909.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

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EDWARD E. EDGERTON, OF CHICAGO. ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC-LAIVIP CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

"atcntcd Feb. 15. .1910.

Application filed June 1, 1909. Serial No. 499.534.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Enwxnn lG. Eocnuron, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of (look, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Lamp Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in devices used in cleaning the exterior surfaces of incandescent light globes such as are situated out of ordinary reach, and more specifically to such of said devices as comprise pivoted jaws adapted to be brought to embrace the globe to be cleaned.

The object of my invention is to provide a mechanism adapted for employment in conjunction with a device of the character mentioned for holding the jaws thereof in operative or embracing position during rotation of the device such as is necessary in order to effect. the cleaning of the globe embraced.

A further object is to provide a mechanism as stated which will be effectual, readily and quickly operated, and which will be simple of construction hence of low cost to manufacture.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

l/Vith these objects in view my invention consists in a mechanism characterized as above mentioned and in certain details of construction and arrangement of parts all as will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention will be more readily under stood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a globe cleaning device equipped with the preferred form of my mechanism, the cover plate of the inclosing casing of the latter being removed to expose underlying parts, Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on substantially the line of Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is a top plan view of my mechanism and casing detached.

Referring now to the drawings, l indicates a suitable metallic casing, preferably rectangular in form. llotatably mounted on the stud shaft Qprovided in said casing is a drum 8 formed at its inner extremity with the projecting circumferential flange l in which is formed a plurality of ratchet teeth 5. Having its inner extremity suitably se cured to the circumference of said drum and its opposite extremity projecting through an opening 7 provided in the upper extremity of the casing 1, is a flexible cord or connecting member 8 adapted, upon the rotation of said drum to be coiled upon the periphery of the latter. By means of a radially projecting arm 5,) formed, preferably intcgrally with said drum, and the cord 10 connected to the outer extremity of said arm preferably through the medium of a link 1.1, said drum may evidently be rotated. livoted as at 12 in said casing, is a pawl 13 adapted to engage the ratchet teeth 5 of the drum 3. leaf spring 1- embracing a supporting pin 15 projecting from said casing, one extremity of the former engaging a side wall of the casing .l, and the opposite ex trcmity resting in forcible engagement with the pawl id, is adapted to normally hold the latter in constant engagement with said ratchet teeth. livotcd as at it; in the casing 1 is a lever l? the head 18 of which is adapted to contact the shank it) of the pawl '13. By means of :1 depending cord 20 secured to the shank of said lever, said pawl may evidently be rocked to disengage the ratchet teeth 5 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. 21 indicates the preferably flanged cover plate for the casing, the same being secured thereto by means of a screw passing thercthrough and thrcadcd into the stud shaft 2.

In the act-.ompanying drawings I have shown my mechanism applied to a preferred form of electric lamp cleaner, such being shown and described in my prior patent, No. 925,084, hence it is understood that no claim is here made to the details of such device. Comprised generally in such cleaner is the handle 23 in the upper bifurcated end portion of which are pivoted the shanks 2-Il- 2 i: of similarly formed jaws or gripping levers Said jaws are formed with an interior formation conforming substantially with the contour of an incandescent light globe, hence as illustrated the same may be brought to tightly engage a globe as stated for cleaning. A helical spring 26 interposed between the under edges of the jaw shanks 2-.t2-:l and a cirtannferential shoulder 27 formed upon the handle 23 is adapted to normally hold the jaws in opened position. As shown in the application mentioned and in all similar forms of cleaners, the means employed for closing the gripping jaws thereof is comprised simply of a cord connected to and depending from the shanks of the gripping jaws, the latter being closed by drawing downwardly upon such cord. In such forms in order to hold the jaws in closed or gripping position during the rotation thereof as when cleaning, the cord is ordinarily cleated to the handle or simply held in the hand. Suchmeans for holding the jaws in closing or embracing position have, however, been found inadequate and it is with the object in view of an improvement in this regard that I provide the mechanism described. In applying my mechanism to a device of such nature, the casing 1 thereof is, as shown, secured, preferably by screws 28, to the handle 23 or" the cleaner close to the upper extremity thereof. Links 29 are provided which connect the outer extremity of the jaw shanks 24;% and the upper or free extremity of the flexible member 8 of the mechanism. With such arrangement it is clear that the jaws 2525 may be closed by simply drawing downwardly, upon the cord 10, and that said jaws will be positively locked in such position by pawl 13. Upon desiring to open said jaws, the cord 20 needs only to be drawn downwardly, such operation causing the tripping of the pawl 13, as before stated, thereby releasing the jaws, the latter being returned to opened position by the spring 26, as clearly shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

While I have shown what I deem to be the preferable form. of my construction I do not wish to be limited thereto as there might be many changes made in the details of construction and the arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention comprehended within the scope of the appended claims. And although I have designed my device with special reference to electric lamp cleaners I may use the same in any other connection to which it is applicable.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a globe cleaning device comprising pivoted jaws, of a casing mounted below said jaws, a drum rotatably mounted in said casing operatively connected with said jaws, said drum being adapted when rotated in one direction to cause the closing of said jaws, means for rotating said drum to close said jaws, a pawl and ratchet device for locking said drum in adjusted position and means for tripping said last named means to release said drum, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a globe cleaning device comprising normally opened pivoted jaws, of a casing mounted below said jaws,

a drum rotatably mounted in said casing operatively connected with said jaws adapted when rotated in one direction to cause the closing of said jaws, an arm projecting from said drum for rotating the latter, a pawl pivoted in said casing engaging teeth provided in the periphery of said drum, adapted to lock the latter in adjusted position, and means for tripping said pawl to release said drum, substantially as described.

3. T he combination with a globe cleaning device comprising pivoted jaws adapted by means of depending cords to be rocked to embrace the globe cleaned, of means connected with said cords whereby said. jaws may be rocked to and retained in closing position, said means comprising a rotatable drum connected with said depending cords, said drum being adapted when rotated in one direction to cause the lowering of said cords and the closing of said jaws, means for rotating said drum, means for locking the same in adjusted position, and means for tripping said last named means to release said drum, substantially as described.

1. The combination with a globe cleaning device comprising pivoted jaws adapted upon the downward drawing of depending links connected therewith to be rocked to closing position, of means connected with said links for downwardly drawing the same, said means comprising a rotatable drum connected with said depending links adapted upon rotation in one direction to lower the latter, means for rotating said drum, a pawl and ratchet device for locking said drum in adjusted position, and means :for tripping said locking means to release said drum, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a globe cleaning device comprising normally opened pivoted jaws, of a casing mounted below said jaws, a drum rotatably mounted in said casing, a flexible cord operatively connecting said drum and said jaws, said drum being adapted when rotated in one direction to cause the opening of said jaws, an integral arm projecting from said drum for rotating the same in a direction to close said jaws, ratchet teeth formed in the periphery of said drum, a pawl pivoted in said casing engaging said teeth adapted to lock said drum against reverse movement, spring means for normally holding said pawl in engagement with said teeth, and means for rocking said pawl to release said drum, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDIVARD E. EDGERTON.

itnesses HELEN F. LILLIs, JOSHUA R. H. Po'rTs. 

